Tag: God

Do you know that perfect married couple? They look happy together. They’re always holding hands and seem to have it all figured out. People look to them for advice. They’re the hashtag-relationship-goals of social media. I could name some couples that fall into this category for me. I’m grateful for their example of marital bliss, and their PDA posts make me smile.

Neal and I are not that perfect married couple. A superficial glimpse might make it appear that we are. We do hold hands. We do say nice things to and about each other on social media. We’ve been asked to teach the occasional marriage seminar. And so every now and then someone will remark on our relationship as being “exemplary” or some other thoughtful description. I thank them because I appreciate their kindness but inwardly I cringe and think, “Far from it.” We agree to teach about marriage because we can study what God’s Word has to say about it. After nearly 27 years together, we can share some lessons we’ve learned from experience (some of them the hard way). But we have had our own struggles and are still learning and growing, one year at a time. We’ve hurt each other and let each other down. As a wife, I’ve been guilty of lying, betraying, sulking, and manipulating. Some of those hurtful things I knew I was doing in the moment. Some of them I only realized later when I looked back over my behavior. Our marriage has had rocky times because of the pressures of trials. And our marriage has had rough patches because of the consequences of our own choices. We’ve had to practice forgiveness, patience, and grace. No, we are not that perfect married couple.

But we are a married couple and our God is perfect.

I’ve been reminded of this truth a couple of times this week. Take a look at these “perfect” couples.

I met this couple last night. They got married at ages 15 and 17, and have been married for 55 years. I asked them separately what has held them together for over half a century, especially since they started out so young. Without hesitating, each of them said, “God.” For them, it was as simple as that. When they were standing together again, I pointed out that they each gave the same one-word answer. She laughed and said, “Without God, I would’ve kicked him out a long time ago!” They went on to add other advice, like the importance of giving 100% instead of 50/50 (and making that determination each new day).

I met this couple two nights ago. They’ve been married for 67 years! It didn’t take long to figure out what has held them together. She told me their first date was at Mammoth Cave. He nodded and said, “I should’ve left her down there.” He shared their secret to commitment: “Divorce never crossed our minds. Murder did, once or twice, but divorce was never an option.” We all laughed and they looked at each other with a twinkle in their eyes that gave me a glimpse of the young couple they once were. I loved their sense of humor and strong faith (made obvious by supporting a gospel meeting on a weeknight). I imagine 67 years has given them a few stories of hardships and struggles but they are still together, still sharing some laughs, and still holding hands.

These are the real, perfect married couples. I don’t know them well enough to see beyond the superficial. But I do know that they’ve entrusted their marriages to their perfect God. How blessed we are to enjoy life together, find reasons to smile, and keep holding hands despite our imperfections!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Eph. 3:20).

I love the idea of keeping a prayer journal. At ladies’ Bible class this past week, Anthea Carelse shared how she does hers. I thought it was so great that I plan to do the same thing. Instead of coming up with New Year’s resolutions, Anthea spends time creating her prayer journal for the year. She thinks of and writes down her list of major prayer requests/ concerns. She adds to it throughout the year. She said that her favorite part is looking back a few weeks or months later and seeing how many she can cross off the list. Anthea said that at the end of the year, she looks back over her prayer journal and can clearly see how most of her prayers were answered or in the process of being answered. How faith building!

Anthea’s idea is a great one because it’s a reminder to see God at work. When we do that, we will be more thankful for His love and attention. We can always grow in our faith and in our gratitude. Acknowledging answered prayers is an easy way to do that.

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

–1 John 5:14,15

“Leave it all in the Hands that were wounded for you”

(Elisabeth Elliot)

Suggestions for the Week:

Purchase a spiral bound notebook or pretty journal and be thinking about the specific prayer requests/ concerns you’d like to write down on January 1st.

Besides building faith and growing gratitude, keeping track of God’s work in your life can also keep complaining and the martyr complex at bay. What other benefits can you think of that will come from acknowledging answered prayers?

Read the following verses and note the conditions mentioned for answered prayer:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber.Behold, He who keeps IsraelShall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lordis your keeper;The Lordis your shade at your right hand.The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul.The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth, and even forevermore.

(Psalm 121)

This psalm has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. It’s a beautiful reminder of God’s care. When you’re hurting, lift your eyes to the One who wants to help you. When you’re afraid of what lies ahead, remember your Protector.

How easy it is to feel alone! How quickly I become overwhelmed. “I will lift up my eyes.” God is there. He is helping, keeping, shading, and preserving ME. The God of heaven and earth watches over ME.

“We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chron. 20:12).

Sometimes I need a reminder to lift my eyes.

Suggestions for the Week:

Memorize Psalm 121.

Read Psalm 123:1 and Isa. 40:26.

Think of examples of those in the Bible who looked up in their distress.

It’s Monday and perhaps your to-do list is a long one. Or you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or overburdened. Perhaps you picked up a few extra cares recently. Or maybe you just don’t feel that great. Sometimes life lacks luster. If you didn’t greet this new day feely sunny and inspired, remember this one truth: Our God is an awesome God.

“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.”

(Psalm 147:5)

This one verse alone invigorates me. When I feel inadequate, I need to remember that our God is great. When I feel drained, I must remember to lean on God’s abundant strength. Basically, I need to stop focusing on myself and start focusing on my God. Then I will be amazed!

I am amazed when I look to God because:

He has done wonderful things- Psalm 98:1

He alone works wonders- Psalm 72:18

His doings are marvelous- Psalm 118:23

His plans are carried out with perfect faithfulness- Isaiah 25:1

I see God’s wonderful, marvelous things in creation, in His providence, and in His love and grace. When I remember to look for these things, I am amazed.

When men looked to the Son of God, they were amazed. He amazed a governor (Matt. 27:14), crowds (Matt. 7:28,29), the Pharisees (Matt. 22:22), the disciples (Mark 10:24), and many others. They heard what Jesus said and saw what He did. I need to remember to stay in the Word to be amazed again by what my Lord said and did.

“On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.”

(Psalm 145:5)

You can be amazed today. You woke up. Your great God loves you. You have purpose. You can look for opportunities to glorify God. You are surrounded by people who need to know God so they, too, can be amazed.

Suggestions for the week:

Look up the Scriptures listed above about people being amazed by Jesus. Note what specific thing He said or did that had them in awe. Is it something you can be in awe of now?

Be aware of God’s greatness. Look around you. What do you see? Nature? Family? A home to take care of? Neighbors? Your Bible?

Meditate this week on verses that have to do with the marvelous things of God.

Sing about it. “I Stand Amazed,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Our God is an Awesome God,” and “We Bow Down” are some good ones.

I own a book called “Staying Close–Stopping the Natural Drift Toward Isolation.” It’s about the fact that couples can drift apart without realizing it. Because of busy schedules, new interests, etc., couples need to put effort into staying close, or they may wake up one day wondering how they turned into strangers.

When it comes to your relationship with God, there may be times when it feels like He is a stranger. Perhaps He feels far away or removed from your life. It may seem hard to feel close to a God you can’t “see.” Or perhaps your communication with Him has been stagnant. Your prayers have become a matter of routine. You no longer crave His Word.

“Staying Close” encourages couples to intentionally renew their acquaintance with each other on a regular basis. Surely it’s a good idea for Christians to intentionally renew their acquaintance with the Father. God never changes (Mal. 3:6), but we do. God never moves away from us, but we can drift away from Him (Psa. 145:18,19; Heb. 2:1).

Spend some time this week getting to know your Father better. You may have known Him for most of your life, but focusing on Who He is will remind you why you love Him.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Suggestions for the week:

Read the following passages and write down what you learn about your Father (from a-z!):

a. Exodus 34:5,6-

b. Numbers 23:19-

c. Deut. 3:24-

d. Deut. 4:24-

e. Deut. 4:31-

f. Deut. 10:17-

g. Deut. 33:27-

h. Josh. 1:9-

i. 2 Sam. 22:32,33-

j. 2 Chron. 30:9-

k. Psa. 62:7,8-

l. Psa. 68:19,20-

m. Psa. 84:11,12-

n. Psa. 103-

o. Psa. 116:5-

p. Isa. 40:28-

q. Micah 7:18,19-

r. Matt. 19:26-

s. Acts 10:34-

t. 1 Cor. 1:9-

u. 1 Cor. 10:13-

v. 1 Cor. 14:33-

w. 1 Pet. 1:15

x. 2 Pet. 3:9-

y. 1 John 1:5-

z. 1 John 4:7-9-

Pray to your Father about knowing Him better and allowing that knowledge to shape your relationship with Him.